As another intense heat wave grips Southern California, residents are facing not only scorching temperatures but also a significant threat to their respiratory health: poor air quality. The culprit behind this hazardous situation is ozone pollution, commonly known as smog.
According to Scott Epstein, planning and rules manager of air quality assessment for the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), ozone levels tend to spike during hot weather. “Ozone, or smog, is the dominant summertime pollutant in Southern California. And that tends to form more readily under high temperatures,” he explained.
The extreme heat triggers an increase in the amount of ozone pollution in the air, leading to a decline in air quality. Epstein elaborates, “When temperatures are high, you get a lot more evaporation of one of the compounds that form smog in the atmosphere, and you speed up the reactions that form smog as well. So, we tend to see our highest ozone levels or smog levels on the hottest days of the year.”
As temperatures climb throughout the day, ozone levels follow suit, reaching their peak in the mid-to-late afternoon. These elevated ozone levels can trigger a range of respiratory issues, including asthma. Epstein warns, “Breathing high levels of ozone can cause serious respiratory issues such as asthma. It can aggravate respiratory conditions such as COPD, cause trouble breathing or other lung issues. So, the most important thing on these days is to be aware of high levels of ozone. It’s not a visible pollutant.”
To mitigate the impact of poor air quality during these extreme conditions, the SCAQMD advises residents to take steps to minimize exposure to outdoor air. Epstein recommends, “Keep windows and doors closed, run your air conditioner and air purifier, and minimize things that bring outdoor air inside, such as a swamp cooler or a whole-house fan.”
In response to the escalating ozone pollution, the SCAQMD has issued an Ozone Alert for most of Southern California, which will remain in effect until Friday evening. This alert serves as a reminder for residents to take necessary precautions to protect their health during this period of heightened air quality concerns.
